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JeffNEWS, January 31, 1995
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You and Your Health and Safety
Joslin Offers One-Day Classes in Diabetes Basics
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Adults with diabetes will benefit from a one-day class, "The Basics of
Diabetes Management," on Tuesday, February 14, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.,
at the Joslin Center for Diabetes at Wills and Jefferson. The class will
also be offered on Tuesdays, March 14, April 11, May 9 and June 20. The
center is located on the sixth floor of 211 S. Ninth Street.
You'll receive invaluable information on insulin and medications,
blood glucose monitoring, prevention of complications, nutrition,
exercise, and coping with stress from Joslin's multidisciplinary staff.
You may bring a nondiabetic family member or close friend with you to
class free of charge. Just notify us when you make your own reservation.
If you have a blood glucose meter, please bring it along because
you'll have an opportunity to ask questions about its use.
The cost of the program is $50, plus a fee for a take-home
book - $2.95 if you don't take insulin, and $8.50 if you do - payable in
advance. Medicare Part B may cover this charge for those who have met
their deductible.
Joslin will give you a 33-percent discount on parking if you park at
the Wills Eye Hospital garage on Ninth Street between Walnut and Locust
streets.
Participants are asked to bring their own lunch, which can be kept in
a refrigerator on the premises.
Space is limited. To reserve your place or for further information,
call Gary Scheiner, MS, diabetes class coordinator, at 215-928-3147.
Thirsty? Think Before You Drink
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Reaching for a can of cola every time you're thirsty may have an
unhealthy long-term affect on your bones. High phosphorus intake lowers
the amount of calcium in the body and leads to loss of bone; a 12-ounce
can of cola has 50 mg of phosphorus and no calcium. For people who eat a
balanced diet and get enough calcium from dairy products, green leafy
vegetables or calcium supplements, a soft drink every now and then is
fine. But for young people in particular, the real danger of soda is
that it's drunk as a substitute for milk, which contains calcium
necessary for strong bones. Teenagers and young adults are still
building bone mass, and the amount of bone present by age 30 is a
determining factor in whether a person will experience bone loss later
in life, says John L. Abruzzo, MD, director of Jefferson's Osteoporosis
Prevention and Treatment Center.
Repetitive Strain Injury: A Royal Pain in the Hand And Wrist
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Computer users should be alert to the risk of repetitive strain injury
(RSI), among them carpal tunnel syndrome, which causes damage to wrists
and hands, and is becoming more widespread among workers in occupations
of all kinds. Ironically, the ailment is easy to prevent but hard to
cure. Jolene Shaw, environmental health and safety, offers precautions
you can take to avoid RSI.
o Don't be a workaholic. Take rest breaks from your computer and
keyboard. Shake out your arms and wrists during these breaks to
restore circulation.
o Maintain good posture. Your body should be relaxed, not rigid, and
your weight evenly distributed.
o When typing, keep your arms loose with hands relaxed and fingers
gently curved. Your hands should float easily above the keyboard.
o Keep wrists in a neutral position, not angled at the keyboard. Most
ergonomically correct work stations come equipped with wrist rests to
keep wrists in the proper position.
o Avoid leaning on arm rests or wrist pads, and don't lean on elbows.
o Don't wear wrist splints while typing. They can cause atrophy in
some muscle groups.
Separating the Hype From the Help About Moisturizers
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Colder outside air and indoor heating systems contribute to the
chapped lips, and dry, flaky skin many of us complain of this time of
year. Before you spend a small fortune on moisturizers, says Jefferson
dermatologist Sylvia Hsu-Wong, MD, get the facts about skin and skin
products.
First of all, in spite of what advertisers tell you, most fancy-
sounding ingredients in moisturizers contain molecules too large to
penetrate the uppermost skin layer. As a result, they contribute little
or nothing to the overall lubricating benefits of moisturizers and only
add to their price.
Secondly, you don't need a special moisturizer for under your eyes or
any other part of your face or body. One all-purpose whole-body
moisturizer will do the job of keeping skin smooth and supple.
Moisturizers counteract dryness by either physically blocking moisture
from leaving the skin (spreading petroleum jelly on the lips has this
effect) or by helping the skin retain its water content by attracting
moisture from the skin and the surrounding air, thereby slowing down the
rate of water loss.
Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA's), derived from fruit, milk and sugar cane,
have made their way into the media spotlight with a reputation for
making wrinkles disappear. In the right concentration, for instance in a
chemical peel, AHA's can improve the look of skin, making wrinkles less
noticeable. But the fact is, no moisturizer can "cure" wrinkles, which
are largely due to the effects of sun exposure and aging. Cosmetics that
contain AHA's have them in such small concentrations that the benefits
of this ingredient are lost. However, moisturizers with sunscreen
ingredients can prevent future wrinkling due to sun damage.
Yes, You Can Exercise Outdoors in Winter Weather
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Winter brings it's own host of outdoor activities you can't do any
other time of year, such as skiing and ice skating. The key to winter
exercising is striking a balance between your body temperature, your
clothing and weather conditions. By dressing properly you can exercise
safely and comfortably in cold weather, says Gail DiGiambattista,
manager of Jefferson's Health Awareness Program. Here's how:
o Avoid becoming overheated. One of the most common mistakes when
dressing for winter exercise is simply wearing too much. Exercise
generates body heat, which can cause premature fatigue and discomfort
when trapped by too many heavy layers of clothing. You're probably
overdressed if you don't feel slightly chilled during the first five
minutes of your workout.
o Layer your clothing. The easiest way to avoid overheating and
maintain comfort when the temperature dips is to wear layers of
lightweight apparel.
o Protect exposed parts. Body heat escapes through improper protection
of the hands, neck, feet and head. Mittens are better than gloves,
which allow cold air to circulate around the fingers. Up to 40
percent of your body heat can be lost through your head, so wear
a hat. By dressing properly, you can avoid the two most dangerous
conditions of cold weather - frostbite and hyperthermia.
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Information provided by: Editor, JeffNEWS
(215) 955-6204
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